SERIAL GRAFFITI – An unidentified graffiti artist has scrawled complete sentences around Jersey City and Hoboken for over a year. Here is a relatively recent one on the Park Avenue Bridge between Weehawken and Hoboken.

JERSEY CITY – Spectra Energy is questioning a statement released last week by the office of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy.

Late in the day on Friday, Oct. 12, Healy’s office issued a press release stating that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was going to reconsider the city’s legal motion on the natural gas pipeline that Spectra is building through Jersey City. The city has long opposed the pipeline’s current route, which will be built close to several residential neighborhoods, schools, Jersey City Medical Center, and transit infrastructure.

After FERC gave the Texas-based Spectra Energy approval in May to build the pipeline, the city filed an appeal asking the federal agency to reconsider its decision. While it is extremely rare for FERC to reconsider such appeals, last Friday, Healy’s office announced that the city had received word that FERC would indeed take another look at the city’s concerns regarding the pipeline project.

The agency was scheduled to consider the matter at a meeting of FERC commissioners set for Thursday, Oct., 18, according to the press release issued by Healy’s office.

But a spokeswoman for Spectra called into question whether the agency will consider the city’s concerns.

“FERC typically issues a Sunshine Act Meeting Notice to identify the matters the commissioners intend to take up at this meeting,” said Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley. “The [pipeline] project is on the agenda. There is no more specific information available than that. If Mayor Healy advises he has more specific information, he should be able to provide that.”

As of Monday morning, city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill had not responded to and e-mail sent by the Reporter Saturday evening seeking clarification. The Oct. 12 press release was still posted to the city web site at of this morning. – E. Assata Wright

Hoboken to hold school board candidate forum

HOBOKEN -- Hoboken voters will hear directly from the seven candidates running to fill three open seats on the Hoboken Board of Education when they participate in an open forum on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012.

The forum will be held at Demarest School on Fourth Street between Bloomfield and Garden streets. The event starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Written questions will be submitted by the audience. Index cards and pencils will be provided.

The forum will be moderated by Bob Bowdon, a former Bloomberg Television interviewer who currently runs Choice Media, a national education reform news service based in Hoboken.

The Hoboken Family Alliance and the Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition are co-sponsors.

Each candidate will present an opening and closing statement, and answers to questions will be timed. Questions may be submitted prior to the event via email/post questions to the Hoboken Family Alliance web site (www.hobokenfamily.com) or to info@hobokenQLC.org.

Admission is free.

Now you can make reservations for your hospital emergency

JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN – Well, that’s something different.

Patients have long complained about emergency room waits. But Jersey City Medical Center is says that beginning later this month, they’ll institute an online appointment system that enables individuals with non-threatening medical conditions to select a projected treatment time and then arrive at the Jersey City hospital’s emergency room to see a health care professional. Patients will also have the option to visit the Hoboken Health Stop, the hospital’s after hours walk-in care facility at 2 Hudson St. in Hoboken, located next to the transportation terminals.

This is the first time such a system is being instituted in the New York metropolitan area. Developed in 2006 by InQuicker.com, a Nashville, Tenn.-based company, the system has been used by 165 healthcare facilities in 22 states, according to a press release.

“There is a shortage of primary care physicians in this area, and as such, the hard working providers in ERs and physician offices aren’t able to keep up with the demand for services, which can lead to delays in treatment, lengthy wait times for appointments and, ultimately, unhappy patients,” said Kirat Kharode, the hospital’s vice president of operations. “With this system, which is similar to using OpenTable to make a restaurant reservation, we will be holding a place for patients in line without them having to actually be there. We’re putting our patients first.”

To make an appointment, patients can go to the hospital website, www.libertyhcs.org or www.Ichoosejcmc.com.